BWW Preview: Yiddish World Premiere of THE PRODUCERS: A MEL BROOKS MUSICAL at Segal Centre through 7/10

For the first time, the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre (DWYT), Canada's oldest Yiddish-language theatre, is teaming up with the vibrant, META Award-winning Côte Saint-Luc Dramatic Society to produce the Yiddish World premiere of THE PRODUCERS: A New Mel Brooks Musical. The Segal Centre for Performing Arts is proud to present this hilarious, record-breaking musical in Yiddish with English and French supertitles on the Segal stage through July 10, 2016.

Based on the Academy Award-winning 1968 film, THE PRODUCERS follows Max Bialystock, a down-on-his-luck Broadway producer and his mild-mannered accountant, Leo Bloom, as they come up with a scheme to produce the most notorious flop in history to scam their backers out of millions of dollars. However, one thing goes awry: the show is a smash hit! Featuring a riotous mix of eccentric characters and toe-tapping songs, THE PRODUCERS is one of the most popular Broadway shows of all time. It broke records when it swept the Tony Awards, winning in all 12 categories for which it was nominated, including Best Musical.

Mayor Mitchell Brownstein said: "I am thrilled that the Côte Saint-Luc Dramatic Society has joined forces with the renowned Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre for our five year anniversary. DWYT has been a staple of the community for many years and aligns with our belief in supporting arts and culture in the community. It has been a pleasure bringing our two organizations together and I hope this is the first of many collaborations. I am looking forward to sharing the stage with castmates old and new."

Côte Saint-Luc Dramatic Society Artistic Director Anisa Cameron explained: "Working with actors who are Yiddish speakers and with actors who are non-Yiddish speakers on this production has been so rewarding. Every rehearsal, it has been a joy to see the text come to life and to experience non-Yiddish speakers learning the language with passion and precision! I was impressed by how the tremendous team of translators at the DWYT and the Segal managed to remain true to Mel Brooks' genius and humour, and to the Yiddish language in a way that will make it easy for non-Yiddish speakers to understand."

A vibrant cast of 40, made up of DWYT and Côte Saint-Luc Dramatic Society new talent and veteran performers, lead this dynamic production directed by Anisa Cameron. The production design showcases the incredible skills of Nick Burgess (Musical Direction), Jonathan Patterson (Choreography), Jeremy Gordaneer (Set Design), Louise Bourret (Costume Design), Luc Prairie (Lighting Design) and Peter Balov (Sound Design).

The Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre (DWYT) is the resident theatre company of the Segal Centre for Performing Arts and Canada's oldest surviving Yiddish-language theatre. Since 1958, the DWYT has been dramatizing the Jewish experience and sustaining the Yiddish theatre legacy at home in Montreal and abroad. The Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre has presented over 90 critically-acclaimed productions, ranging from classics and original works to dramas and musicals. Founded by Dora Wasserman, OC, OQ, the company was led to new heights by Dora's daughter, Bryna Wasserman, who remains its Honorary Artistic Director.

The Côte Saint-Luc Dramatic Society was founded in 2011 by the City of Côte Saint-Luc, Mitchell Brownstein and Anisa Cameron with the goal of bringing together actors, writers, musicians and other artistically minded community members to produce theatrical works in an inclusive environment where emphasis is placed on teamwork and camaraderie, not celebrity. In its 5 years, the CSLDS has produced 10 shows, has been nominated and won the META Award for Outstanding Community Theatre, and continues to grow each season.

The Segal Centre for Performing Arts is a not-for-profit theatre company dedicated to nurturing, producing and presenting world-class English-language theatre, and to showcasing the best professional artists from Montreal and beyond. Founded in 1967, the Segal Centre has expanded to become a nationally recognized venue for the performing arts and a favoured destination for jazz concerts, cinema, and enriching educational programming. The Segal is home to the celebrated Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre (est. 1958), and a recognized artistic leader in Montreal's Jewish community. The Segal believes in the power of the arts to strengthen and connect communities and is committed to offering relevant, engaging, and accessible programming. www.segalcentre.org

Photo Credit: Andree Lanthier

 

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